Huge Evening Of Chasing Action At Addington
Peter Fenemor • August 14th, 2025 10:22 AM • 5 min read
It’s an exciting evening of chasing action coming up at the Addington Raceway this evening with numerous classy feature races being contested during the 15-race meeting.
The meeting features the running of the New Zealand edition of the Australian Nationals, which is a series that sees the winners of state finals over the Sprint and Distance trips throughout Australia converge at an annual rotating venue to contest the pair of rich Group race finals.
This year’s finals will be contested at the new The Q2 Parklands track in Brisbane on August 30.
New Zealand has previously been represented in the Australian Nationals finals, however that won’t occur owing to travel and quarantine restrictions impacting on the limited time period available prior to the finals.
Kudos to GRNZ and the Christchurch GRC for carrying on with the Kiwi version of this series.
The $10,000 Follow The Nationals Middle Distance Feature (M10, R1) features a competitive field over 525m.
Last season’s dual Group 1 winner Xisco Bale ($4.60 & $1.70 – TAB Fixed) owns sufficient early pace to overcome his tricky trap-five draw for Craig Roberts. He can bowl along swiftly if he can find the early race lead.
Garry Cleeve is lining up his competitive pair of litter brothers Stuck Throttle ($4 & $1.55) and Zestful ($5.50 & $1.85). Both of them can be expected to deliver competitive races.
The trap-one drawn Let Him Cook ($7.50 & $2.50) owns an abundance of ability, although he can give his supporters some scares during his races. Last season’s Ashburton Cup winner roared home late for his last start Ascot Park 457m second.
“Yes, he’s finally come up with a good draw, which certainly can aid his claims. He still must use it. He’s feeling a million dollars, and I can’t fault him going into Thursday,” advised Roberts. “It will be good to see him racing handy to the pace.”
Drawing alongside him is kennelmate Romantic Dancer ($6.50 & $2.05) who returns to 525m racing following his stylish last start 38.87 Manawatu 660m win. He has never missed a placing from the six previous races he has contested from the two-trap.
“That was a confidence boosting win for him in Palmerston North. He’s also drawn nicely and if he can pick the jump and get handy racing into the first turn, then yes, he can make his presence felt. It will be nice to see him win a feature race,” commented Roberts.
The stayers are in action in the $10,000 Supporting The Nationals Feature (M10, R2) where they will race over the 732m trip.
The field is dominated by the Matt Roberts and Jack Johnson training partnership, who now provide four of the five runners following the scratching of Opawa Corban.
The outstanding stayer Chief Dribble ($1.24 & $1.01) warmed up for this assignment by winning the inaugural Addington 681m race last week and he holds strong claims again as seen by his nine wins from his ten previous 732m races here.
“You can’t knock the way he’s currently racing. Hopefully he secures the early lead and then rinses and repeat his previous 732m wins,” stated Roberts
Adobe Videl ($4 & $1.05) valiantly chased home Chief Dribble last week and she is expected to be sighted finishing boldly again.
“She is going great at the moment, racing really good. She has youth on her side and if she gets forward early, she will finish it off strongly. We can’t fault her,” commented Roberts.
The partners have taken over the conditioning of the proven stayer Opawa Louise ($17 & $1.60). “We’re still working her out, only having her here for a couple of weeks. The small field should suit her,” said Roberts.
Maestro Mojito ($35 & $2.25) has placed in four of his nine previous 732m races and a placing looks to be the best option for him as Roberts confirms.
“He can go the odd good race. His best chance is to take up a handy early position and then kick on from there.”
Looking to gatecrash the podium is the evergreen stayer Grande Vue Ace ($10 & $1.28) and she is more than capable of being able to do so for her conditioner Bob Pringle.
Roberts has a lot of respect for Grande Vue Ace as he explains. “She continues to deliver strong staying races. She enjoyed a really good last season, and she gets a draw from where she’ll get the rail early. She is definitely capable of giving our stayers a competitive race.”
The other $10,000 feature this evening is the final of the Harding Cup for the open class sprinters over the 295m dash (M9 R10).
Two heats were held last Thursday resulted in Craig Roberts mentoring both heat winners.
The recently imported former Victorian sprinter Dewy News ($3.20 & $1.30) has won both of his 295m sprints, winning his heat for this final in 16.80. Kennelmate Hadwin Bale ($6.50 & $1.85) took out the other heat, clocking 16.90 for his sprint.
Diamond Ranger ($4.80 & $1.60) continues to deliver competitive sprints, and his mentor Malcolm Grant will have him primed to produce another bold sprint from his handy two-trap draw.
The Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie training partnership will line-up Opawa Mocha ($2.90 & $1.28) and he’s always a strong prospect whenever he’s sprinting at the Garden City venue.
There will be a huge amount of interest centred around the smart Craig Roberts trained Paw Bradley in the opening event.
Paw Bradley ($1.18 & $1.01) is making his long-awaited staying race debut, contesting the 681m $8,000 OTB Maiden Distance Feature (M9 R1). It is a race distance that he is expected to relish, justifying his warm favouritism.
Also, follow the form that comes out of the $7,800 OTB Maiden Middle Distance Final (M9 R2). Traditionally this race launches the racing careers for many promising young greyhounds, with most of the finalists sighted rapidly advancing through the grades.
The Fahey and Wyllie training combination provided both 525m heat winners with Opawa Fannin ($1.45 & $1.04) clocking a tidy 30.30 gallop, while kennelmate Explorer Boots ($6 & $1.50) returned 30.69 for his heat win.
Pawnote: All six of the Australian states involved in the Nationals will race their respective Australian Nationals Sprint and Distance finals this evening.
Included in the Queensland Distance final over 710m will be the former New Zealand stayer Goldstar Ginny. Trainer Riley Evans warmed her up for this assignment when he prepared her to deliver her strong finishing last start second over 710m.
Goldstar Ginny ($20 & $3.70) races in the Ladbrokes Queensland Distance Championship Final (M49 R7) jumping at 10.49pm NZT with live coverage on Trackside 2.
